Running Blizzak WS60s on the Lex, have WS50s on the P5.
Kaltire sells Nokian, and those are $$, but worth every penny. Here's an excerpt from a guy who knows what he's talking about on Nasioc regarding winter tires:
I've been paid to test tires, so I'll just throw out a few tips for you guys, make what you will out of it
if you want premium snow tires (i.e. real good ones), not what is cheapest and still looks like a snow (i.e. has the right compounds, etc.):
baselines
- the best tire for any given condition by definition and function is not the best tire for any other condition, so you always need to make a compromise for what you want
- all seasons dont compare, period, no matter what tire rack says, or anyone posts about how they've never been stuck
- we've had to race, for many years, due to regulations, on ice and snow, on normal street tires, so we know how they perform in real winter conditions. how they perform in "not real" winter conditions (i.e. dry, or +20C pavement), we have no idea, but we think they will suck no matter what
- most end user reviews for snows should have a bit less weight because a) most people think "slippery" is anything that isn't grippy b) most people who crashed like to blame their "crappy tires" and c) most people dont actually know the difference between a sliding tire that still has grip, from a sliding tire that has no grip
0) pure snow tires are better in deep snow, than pure ice tires, which are better than pure snow tires, on ice. Both fall into the category called "Studless Ice & Snow".
1) pure ice and pure snow tires will suck on pavement, and will more than likely either shred or melt, if you drive them aggro.
2) performance winters will never, ever, be better than pure ice or pure snow tires, on ice and snow. No matter how "awesome" they were for whomever says so.
3) when I say 'pure ice', I am talking about super soft compound ultra siped ice tires. Not "they look like they have sipes,so they rock". When I say 'pure snow', I am talking about deep lug soft compound tires with an open pattern and ice sipes.
4) there are some combo tires which are in-between pure ice and pure snow, which is really, what you need, unless you do ice rally, or always drive in fresh pow. Many "full snow" tires on the market tend to lean towards snow, or ice, some are spot on in the middle, but unles you are racing you want one, to do both, and the right one usually depends on where you live.
4) when I say 'performance winter', this is the majority of what people see on the market, these work decent on wet and sometimes dry pavement, and aren't "as bad" as all seasons, on ice and in pure snow. Some are good in slush and others re scary in slush. But they dont compare to "Studless Ice & Snow" in real ice and snow conditions. Tire rack calls these "Performance Winter Tires"
Here are some example of 'pure ice' and 'pure snow' tires (caveat being that tirerack is only showing certain brands). Two of the best brands not on tire rack but that we know work awesome are Hakka and Yokohama (also pictured):
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/...Studless-47857Yokohama IG20 (studless)
Hakka 5/7 (for studding)
(note - we have actually raced on almost every tire in this list)...
Here are some examples of 'performance winters' (caveat being tirerack is only showing certain brands). Two of the best brands not on tire rack but that we know work awesome are Hakka and Yokohama (also pictured):
Yokohama W. Drive
Hakka R / RSi
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/types/snows.jsp(note: we've also raced on almost every tire in this list)
5) performance winters are usually in the 'performance' sizes. pure ice and snows usually come in smaller sizes and not so often in the 17/18/19" sizes.
so you should buy, depending on what you are doing. The best tire for every weekend to whistler isn't the same as the guy who goes up maybe once a year.
Finally, I wouldn't, AT ALL, go out on anything but winter tires, as would most people who have done back to back testing under the same conditions, with a winter tire vs. an all season.
Back in the day my favorite ice/snow combo tire was the WS-50 (which you cant buy anymore) and the WS-60 IS NOT IN THE SAME LEAGUE. Then it became the IG10 (which you cant buy anymore). Now its the IG20/30. No tire OTHER than a WS-50 or an IG10/20 has won a national level ice rally in the last 12 years. And with studs one, of the Haks. BTW whomever says the Hakka5 is the gold standard... as them how many national rallies have been won on them...
Back in the day my favorite performance winter was the LM. Now its the W-Drive. Or a Hakka R. Same reasons as above.
The only caveat is I dont actually know where you can buy Haks these days... I think Kal tire is the only option ?? And all of these tires aren't cheap (as usual ygwypf).
For ultra-price conscious you wont get the same performance but there are popular options like the KW and Hancocks, but back to back apples to apples (i.e. studded to studded or studless to studless) its pretty clear what works, what doesn't.